Portable nest structure



E. M. PRATT AND A. H. ROCKEFELLERQ PORTABLE NEST STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNEZS. 1919.

. Patented Aug. 17, 1920;

2 SHEETS-SHEET POJ QZZW E. MLPRATT AND A. H. ROCKEFELLER.

PORTABLE um STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 25. 1919.

Pdtented Aug. 17,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

U: 2 M v M 3 c. a .2 v En u y H WU M \lvl L/z UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE- ELMER M. PRATT AND ALBERT H. ROCKEFELLER, or MAGKSVILLE, KANSAS;SAID PRATT ASSIGNOR To SAID ROCKEFELLER.

PORTABLE NEST STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Aug. 17, 1920.

Application filed June 25, 1919. Serial No. 306,710.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, ELMER M. PRATT and ALBERT H. RooKErELLnR, citizensof the United States, residing at Macksville, in the county of Staffordand State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Portable Nest Structures, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to a portable nest structure, and moreparticularly to the class of grouped hens nests arranged in stairsteporder in rows. 2

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a nest structureof this character, wherein the compartments are grouped in rows arrangedin step by step fashion and the grouped nests are supported upon legs sothat the same can be positioned outside of. a hen house and are elevatedto permit the chickens to pass beneath the nests, each compartment beingrendered lice and mice proof and being readily cleanable to make thesame sanitary.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a nest structure, ofthis character, wherein a multiplicity of compartments formingindependent nests can be grouped together, yet retaining the individualcharacter of the respective nests, the structure being of novel form toassure ready and easy accessibility, whereby eggs can be gatheredtherefrom with despatch, and also which is readily portable.

A further object of the invention isthe provision of a nest structure ofthis character, which is extremely simple in construction, strong,durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of thefeatures'of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as willbe hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, and pointed out in theclaim hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a nest structure constructed inaccordance with the invention, a

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional elevation,

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation,

Fig. l is a sectional View on the line 4-4: of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout theseveral views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A

designates the lower body and B the upper body of superposed rows ofhens nests, each body being made from galvanized sheet metal andcomprising a back 5 formed with the ends 6 and top 7, the latter beingprovided with rightangular dependingflanges 8 to which are riveted theends 6. It will be apparent that the bottom and front of the bodies Aand B are open and these bodies are held in superposed relation to eachother simulating stairstep fashion in a manner presently described. Thebodies A andB at their ends 6 have secured thereto horizontal end pieces9 to which are fastened the vertically disposed front and rear legs 10and 11 respectively, the legs being also fastened to the ends 6 of saidbody and in this manner said legs are a unitarypart and will support thebodies A and B elevated a distance from a foundation or ground.

Located within each body A and B is a series of vertical partitions 12formed with rightangular flanges 13 at the top and rear edges, theseflanges being riveted or otherwise fastened to the back 5 and the top 7so that the partitions 12 are fast within the body and the same arearranged in spaced relation to each other for dividing the body into aplurality of independent compartments 14 forming the individual neststherein. Each partition 12 in the body A has formed at its edge arightangular car 15 to which is fastened a front strip 16 extendinglongitudinally of the body contiguous to the open bottom thereof. Hingedto this strip 16 as at 17 is a swinging bottom 18 which when in closedposition closes the open bottom of the'body. Mounted on the back 5 ofeach body is a pair of'spring catches 19 for engaging the swingingbottom 18 to hold the same in closed position.

Secured to the front strip 16 on the lower body A at the ends thereofare pivot brackets 20 to which are pivotally connected strap hinges 21having fixed thereto a running board 22, the brackets 20 being formed24, the board 22 being reinforced transversely through the medium ofangle irons which are secured to the under face thereof. 9

Carried by the back 5 of the lower body A is a spacer strip 26 havingbends 26 for engaging the front edges of the vertical par- 7 titions '12located Within the upper body B. The upper'body B is devoid ofrf rontstrip 16 for the're'ason that the back 5 of the lower body A extends aslight distance upwardly over the open front of said bod '13 andthebottom 18 for the upper body is hinged directly to the back 5 of thelower body A. J

It will be'clearly obvious that the compartments 14 in the bodies A andB can be readily cleaned so as to render the same sanitary and also thatthese compartments are accessible for the gathering of eggs therefrom.The nest structure is readily portable so that the same can beplaced atany desirable location outsideiof the hen house andthe nests in theirelevated position will be mice proof. It is obvious that the neststructure does not occupy any floor space and by the reason of theelevated position thereof Will permit the chickens to pass underneath ofthe same. It is of course to be understood that any number ofcompartments l l can'be arranged in the bodies A and B to increase thecapacity of the nest structure.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction and the manner ofoperatlon of the nest structure will be clearly under stood .andtherefore a more extended explanation has been omitted.

What is claimed is:

A portable nest structure of the character described comprisingsuperposed bodies, one

being arranged forwardly of the other in a J step by step fashion, eachbody being formed from sheet metal having an open front and bottom asupport for the bodies having angle'irons forming corner legs,partitions arranged within each body for dividing the same intoindependent compartments, a front strip secured to the lowermost body atits open front ears formed on.

the partitions in the lowermost body and fastened to the front strip aspacer strip located between the bodies and having bends forengaging'the partitions in the upper 'most body, a running boardswingingly supported 'on the front strip andadapted to be

